Nevis Disaster Management Department Press Release Photo Set
Wednesday 25th August 2010
On Wednesday 25th August 2010, Mr. Jeremy Collymore, Executive Director of the Caribbean Disaster
Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA) accompanied by Mr. Carl Herbert, National Disaster Coordinator
for St. Kitts/Nevis, visited Nevis as part of a planned visits to a number of Caribbean islands.
The purpose of Mr. Collymore's visit was to emphasize CDEMA’s Regional Institutional Support to
participating states and included:
1. A review of CDEMA support to the Federation over the last year.
2. Discussion of CDEMA support for 2010-2011 and the Federation expectations in this regard.
3. Recent CDERA/CDEMA Re-organizational structure status and way forward.
4. National Readiness and Response Capability in the event of a Disaster.
Mr. Collymore held a meeting with the technical staff at the Nevis Disaster Management Department which included Mr. Lester Blackett, Director and
Mr. Brian Dyer, Project Officer. During the meeting a number of issues were discussed including:
1. collaboration and support by CDEMA of activities of the OAS-FEMCIDI/NIA project entitled “Disaster Management & Mitigation Project, Nevis”
with specific focus on school based education programs; disaster risk reduction strategies for the tourism sector with adaptation of a Caribbean
Disaster Management strategy for St. Kitts/Nevis and the development of a new Disaster Plan for Nevis (to be incorporated into a new Disaster plan
for the Federation).
2. programming development for the long and short term with focus on the 2010-2011 period, including the identification of key drivers such as
resource requirements and institutional strengthening.
3. the mainstreaming of disaster management at all levels
Mr. Collymore also held discussions with Ms. Angelica Elliott, Permanent Secretary in the
Premier’s Ministry. Disaster Risk Reduction initiatives and strategies specific to the island
of Nevis were raised. Recommendations for the sustainability of Disaster Management and
greater collaboration were encouraged to promote the integration of the Region’s
Comprehensive Disaster Management (CDM) into national policies and strategies and also
identify national CDM Champions.
Specific issues raised included contingency planning and disaster risk reduction for the
tourism sector; disaster programming at a national and island level; structure and support
for the local disaster management office; legislative support; the retaining of institutional
memory and organizational continuity; overall readiness for all hazards; policy development
and resource sufficiency for the disaster management department and other related sectors.
Mr. Collymore expressed his concern about the marginalisation of the disaster management
sector and the need to adequately support this critical agency which deals with disaster management issues over a wide spectrum and requires
adequate resources. He also indicated the need for CDEMA to address evolving issues in relation to multi-state countries and country project
selection process.
Mr. Collymore’s also took the opportunity to tour the Nevis Wind Farm project and the West Indies Power Geothermal Facilities, where he received an
appreciation of Nevis’ renewable alternative energy initiatives.
Wednesday 25th August 2010
On Wednesday 25th August 2010, Mr. Jeremy Collymore, Executive Director of the Caribbean Disaster
Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA) accompanied by Mr. Carl Herbert, National Disaster Coordinator
for St. Kitts/Nevis, visited Nevis as part of a planned visits to a number of Caribbean islands.
The purpose of Mr. Collymore's visit was to emphasize CDEMA’s Regional Institutional Support to
participating states and included:
1. A review of CDEMA support to the Federation over the last year.
2. Discussion of CDEMA support for 2010-2011 and the Federation expectations in this regard.
3. Recent CDERA/CDEMA Re-organizational structure status and way forward.
4. National Readiness and Response Capability in the event of a Disaster.
Mr. Collymore held a meeting with the technical staff at the Nevis Disaster Management Department which included Mr. Lester Blackett, Director and
Mr. Brian Dyer, Project Officer. During the meeting a number of issues were discussed including:
1. collaboration and support by CDEMA of activities of the OAS-FEMCIDI/NIA project entitled “Disaster Management & Mitigation Project, Nevis”
with specific focus on school based education programs; disaster risk reduction strategies for the tourism sector with adaptation of a Caribbean
Disaster Management strategy for St. Kitts/Nevis and the development of a new Disaster Plan for Nevis (to be incorporated into a new Disaster plan
for the Federation).
2. programming development for the long and short term with focus on the 2010-2011 period, including the identification of key drivers such as
resource requirements and institutional strengthening.
3. the mainstreaming of disaster management at all levels
Mr. Collymore also held discussions with Ms. Angelica Elliott, Permanent Secretary in the
Premier’s Ministry. Disaster Risk Reduction initiatives and strategies specific to the island
of Nevis were raised. Recommendations for the sustainability of Disaster Management and
greater collaboration were encouraged to promote the integration of the Region’s
Comprehensive Disaster Management (CDM) into national policies and strategies and also
identify national CDM Champions.
Specific issues raised included contingency planning and disaster risk reduction for the
tourism sector; disaster programming at a national and island level; structure and support
for the local disaster management office; legislative support; the retaining of institutional
memory and organizational continuity; overall readiness for all hazards; policy development
and resource sufficiency for the disaster management department and other related sectors.
Mr. Collymore expressed his concern about the marginalisation of the disaster management
sector and the need to adequately support this critical agency which deals with disaster management issues over a wide spectrum and requires
adequate resources. He also indicated the need for CDEMA to address evolving issues in relation to multi-state countries and country project
selection process.
Mr. Collymore’s also took the opportunity to tour the Nevis Wind Farm project and the West Indies Power Geothermal Facilities, where he received an
appreciation of Nevis’ renewable alternative energy initiatives.
